# Javagal Srinath (ಜಾವಗಲ್ ಶ್ರೀನಾಥ್)
**Javagal Srinath** (ಜಾವಗಲ್ ಶ್ರೀನಾಥ್; born 1969 in Mysore, Karnataka) is a former Indian fast bowler who led India's pace attack for over a decade and has served as an ICC match referee since 2006.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) In a playing career running from 1991 to 2003 he took 236 Test wickets and 315 One-Day International wickets, and after retirement he moved into officiating, administration, and commentary.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) • [2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/396-javagal-srinath-playerprofile)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969, Mysore, Karnataka, India[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) |
| International career | 1991 to 2003; 67 Tests and 229 ODIs[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) • [3](https://www.espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/18931101/the-man-kept-beating-bat) |
| Test bowling | 236 wickets at an average of 30.49, best innings 8/86, 10 five-wicket hauls[4](https://cricket.rkjat.in/players/j-srinath/) |
| ODI bowling | 315 wickets at an average of 28.08, best innings 5/23[4](https://cricket.rkjat.in/players/j-srinath/) |
| Milestones | Second Indian fast bowler to 200 Test wickets (after Kapil Dev); first Indian fast bowler to 300 ODI wickets[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) • [14](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/javagal-srinath-51st-birthday-only-india-pacer-with-300-wickets-most-wickets-in-world-cup-by-indian-1716952-2020-08-31) |
| World Cups | Four consecutive tournaments, 1992 to 2003, with 44 wickets; runner-up in 2003[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) |
| Match referee | Joined the Emirates ICC Elite Panel in 2006; officiated his 250th ODI in September 2023[5](https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/srinath-set-to-officiate-in-250th-odi-as-match-referee) |
| Honors | Arjuna Award, 1996[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) |
## Playing career
Srinath first played a One-Day International in October 1991, facing Pakistan at Sharjah, and barely a month later, in November 1991, he appeared in his first Test match, against Australia at Brisbane.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) He began as a supporting seamer in the final phase of [Kapil Dev](https://www.edgepedia.org/kapil-dev)'s career, and after Dev's retirement he carried India's pace attack through the 1990s, bowling long spells on subcontinental pitches that offered little help to seamers.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) He was one of the fastest bowlers to represent India, and by the mid-1990s he was consistently crossing 145 kmph, which made him India's first genuine fast bowler in that sense.[6](https://cdn.splessons.com/2019/09/september-4-english-daily-newspaper-the-hindu-splessons.pdf)
**The Ahmedabad Test of 1996.** His defining red-ball performance came in the first Test against South Africa at [Ahmedabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/ahmedabad) in November 1996. Defending a fourth-innings target of 170, he took six wickets for 21 runs as South Africa were bowled out for 105, giving India a 64-run victory.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) His best Test innings figures, 8 for 86, came against Pakistan, and his career-best match haul was 13 wickets against Pakistan at Kolkata in 1999.[4](https://cricket.rkjat.in/players/j-srinath/) • [1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath)
**Milestones.** Srinath became the fifth Indian, and only the second Indian fast bowler after Kapil Dev, to reach 200 Test wickets, taking the milestone wicket when he had South Africa's captain [Shaun Pollock](https://www.edgepedia.org/shaun-pollock) caught at forward short leg by Shiv Sunder Das at [Bloemfontein](https://www.edgepedia.org/bloemfontein) on 5 November 2001.[7](https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2001/NOV/461841_WISDEN_05NOV2001.html) In one-day cricket he was the first Indian fast bowler to reach 300 wickets, finishing with 315 in 229 ODIs.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) • [14](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/javagal-srinath-51st-birthday-only-india-pacer-with-300-wickets-most-wickets-in-world-cup-by-indian-1716952-2020-08-31)
**World Cups.** Srinath represented India in four consecutive World Cup tournaments from 1992 to 2003 and took 44 World Cup wickets.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) His international career ended at the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa, where his opening spells helped India reach the final, which India lost to Australia.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) • [2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/396-javagal-srinath-playerprofile) Injuries, including a 1997 rotator-cuff problem, interrupted his career, and he retired from international cricket in November 2002 after 67 Tests and 229 one-dayers.[3](https://www.espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/18931101/the-man-kept-beating-bat)
## Style of bowling
Srinath bowled right-arm fast-medium from wide of the crease with a high-arm action, generating bounce and seam movement.[2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/396-javagal-srinath-playerprofile) Over a long career he added variations, mastering leg-cutters and slower deliveries.[2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/396-javagal-srinath-playerprofile) His best Test performances came in home conditions, which ran against the common belief that fast bowlers could not succeed on India's flat pitches.[7](https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2001/NOV/461841_WISDEN_05NOV2001.html)
## Match referee and administration
Srinath was selected for the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees in 2006 after an international interview process, joining a panel that also included Chris Broad, Jeff Crowe, Alan Hurst, Clive Lloyd, Ranjan Madugalle, Roshan Mahanama, and Mike Procter.[8](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/javagal-srinath-joins-emirates-elite-panel-of-icc-referees) His international debut as a referee came in a Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo in 2006, and he prepared by shadowing the chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle at Lord's during an England-Pakistan Test.[5](https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/srinath-set-to-officiate-in-250th-odi-as-match-referee) • [9](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/srinath-prepares-for-first-assignment-as-emirates-icc-elite-panel-match-referee)
By September 2023, when he officiated his 250th ODI as match referee, becoming the fourth referee to reach that milestone after Ranjan Madugalle, Chris Broad, and [Jeff Crowe](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-crowe), his record included 65 Tests, 118 men's T20Is, and 16 women's T20Is, along with the 2007, 2009, 2013, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2021 ICC tournament editions as referee.[5](https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/srinath-set-to-officiate-in-250th-odi-as-match-referee) He has continued to be appointed to major series, including the 2025 [ICC World Test Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/icc-world-test-championship) final.[10](https://images.icc-cricket.com/image/upload/prd/kejotrnjvveyi1ce8faq.pdf)
In administration, Srinath stood for the Karnataka State Cricket Association elections in November 2010 as part of [Anil Kumble](https://www.edgepedia.org/anil-kumble)'s team and was elected secretary of the body, defeating former umpire A V Jayaprakash.[11](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/3894/javagal-srinath) He has also worked with the MRF Pace Foundation, which develops fast bowlers, and as a television commentator.[2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/396-javagal-srinath-playerprofile)
## Recognition
Srinath received the [Arjuna Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjuna-award) in 1996 for his contributions to Indian sport.[1](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath) Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock said during a [Sky Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-sports) podcast discussion that Srinath did not get the credit he deserved.[12](https://www.akkitham.in/uploads/2/8/1/9/28191043/delhi-english-edition-2020-04-19__2___1_.pdf) The Karnataka State Cricket Association's own history calls him the "Mysore Express" and describes him as the fastest-ever bowler in India, and the only Indian fast bowler to appear in four World Cups.[13](https://testing.sportsmechanics.in/ksca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Final.pdf)
## References
1. [Javagal Srinath | Player Profile, ICC](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/2848/javagal-srinath)
2. [Javagal Srinath Profile, NDTV Sports](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/396-javagal-srinath-playerprofile)
3. [The man who kept beating the bat, ESPNcricinfo](https://www.espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/18931101/the-man-kept-beating-bat)
4. [Javagal Srinath stats: Test and ODI career records, Crickrida](https://cricket.rkjat.in/players/j-srinath/)
5. [Srinath set to officiate in 250th ODI as Match Referee, ICC](https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/srinath-set-to-officiate-in-250th-odi-as-match-referee)
6. [The Hindu, Delhi edition, 4 September 2019](https://cdn.splessons.com/2019/09/september-4-english-daily-newspaper-the-hindu-splessons.pdf)
7. [Oooh ah, Javagal Srinath, Wisden CricInfo, 5 November 2001](https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2001/NOV/461841_WISDEN_05NOV2001.html)
8. [Javagal Srinath joins Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees, ICC](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/javagal-srinath-joins-emirates-elite-panel-of-icc-referees)
9. [Srinath prepares for first assignment as Emirates ICC Elite Panel match referee, ICC](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/srinath-prepares-for-first-assignment-as-emirates-icc-elite-panel-match-referee)
10. [ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 Key Contacts, ICC](https://images.icc-cricket.com/image/upload/prd/kejotrnjvveyi1ce8faq.pdf)
11. [Javagal Srinath Profile, Cricbuzz](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/3894/javagal-srinath)
12. [Delhi English edition newspaper, 19 April 2020](https://www.akkitham.in/uploads/2/8/1/9/28191043/delhi-english-edition-2020-04-19__2___1_.pdf)
13. [The Karnataka State Cricket Association history](https://testing.sportsmechanics.in/ksca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Final.pdf)
14. [Javagal Srinath, India's only pacer with over 300 ODI wickets, turns 51-year-old](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/javagal-srinath-51st-birthday-only-india-pacer-with-300-wickets-most-wickets-in-world-cup-by-indian-1716952-2020-08-31)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket people and teams › People › Men's international cricketers › Indian men's cricketers › Indian cricketers of the 1980s and 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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